IDF Chief of Staff confirms that first stage of pullback will be to Awali river; IDF plans to double number of village militias in South Lebanon from 50 to 100.
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Hundreds of former residents of Birim, Maronite village on Israel's northern border evacuated in 1948, call on government to allow them to...
Car bomb explodes near pro-Israel Voice of Hope television station studio on Lebanese side of border near Metulla.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied...
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Military Action:
IDF Chief of Staff confirms that first stage of pullback will be to Awali river; IDF plans to double number of village militias in South Lebanon from 50 to 100.
Casualties:
IDF commander in Tyre says policy of large-scale detentions has proved its efficiency and will continue; Israeli High Court refuses POW status to Ansar prisoners, rules that Geneva Convention on treatment of populations in occupied territory does apply; curfew lifted on 2 South Lebanon villages.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Arens says restoration of Hebron Jewish quarter will be like that undertaken in Old City of Jerusalem after 1967.
Military Action:
IDF patrol attacked by small arms fire and bazookas west of Ein Zahlata.
Casualties:
2 IDF soldiers wounded in Ein Zahlata attack.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Civil Administration head says mass illnesses are work of a local political faction, arrests are being made; Israeli-appointed director general of West Bank hospitals says 20% of cases due to known ailments having nothing to do with poisons, other due to panic and fear; 2 doctors from WHO arrive to conduct investigation; authorities order patients at Hebron hospital to be transferred to Israel or discharged; 3 gasoline bombs thrown at Jericho police station, no injuries reported; Kahane's 17 year-old nephew released on bond after firing Uzi at Palestinians in Old City, judge says rock-throwing is as dangerous as shooting a rifle; Ministry of Labor report shows workers from occupied territories comprise 5-6% of Israeli labor force, including 50% of building workers, 20% of total industrial workers, 20% of service occupations, mostly in hotels and restaurants.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Amman talks recessed for short period, Arafat flies to Kuwait, holds meetings with Kuwaiti officials and members of Fateh Central Committee; tripartite talks held at Khalde with smaller delegations.
Arab Governments: Moroccan King Hassan sends envoys to Arab capitals calling for summit in mid-April.
US and Other Countries: Reagan reportedly telephoned Hussein to urge him to join talks, said US would play active role in seeking solution based on UN Resolution 242.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Hundreds of former residents of Birim, Maronite village on Israel's northern border evacuated in 1948, call on government to allow them to return now that security prevails, government reportedly will not agree to setting precedent since estimated 50,000 Arabs in Israel might also demand return to their original homes; another outbreak of mass sickness on West Bank causes hospitalization of 164 girls from Tulkarm and Anabta, 240 in Yatta; results of International Red Cross investigation of illnesses, released by Israeli Health Ministry, indicate no evidence of poison or toxic material, conclude that epidemic is mass phenomenon devoid of danger; curfew imposed in Yatta, 6 other areas; 2 IDF soldiers, border policeman, and 2 Nablus residents wounded by hand-grenade in Nablus; Israeli bank ransacked during protest demonstrations in Tulkarm; Israeli targets stoned in other West Bank towns; 18 year-old boy shot in arm and stomach by settler driving past al-Arub refugee camp, police question settler and impound his rifle; 2 Israelis injured by stones in Qalqilya; 2 Arab youths injured when Israeli driver swerves his car into group throwing stones; 65 year-old Jerusalem woman hospitalized after being beaten and stabbed, members of Jewish religious school seeking to take over her property are suspected; IDF investigating 2 settler-related shooting incidents in Hebron and Nablus areas; Muslim religious leaders call students to hold protest gathering at Dome of Rock against last year's Easter attack by Israeli soldier; police use teargas to disperse demonstration near Damascus Gate, 8 arrested; police prevent group of 50 Jewish religious nationalists, including Meir Kahane, from entering Temple Mount, group then holds prayers outside gates; teenage nephew of Kahane arrested after firing Uzi at Palestinian demonstrators.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat and Hussein hold third round of talks, Arafat tells news conference he is still committed to Fez summit resolutions, Farouk Kaddoumi says Reagan plan is not a vehicle for negotiation, Abujihad says PLO is not giving a mandate to anyone.
Arab Governments: Mubarak, in Peking, urges PLO and King Hussein to enter talks on Reagan plan soon, before next US election campaign.
US and Other Countries: US diplomats in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem reportedly sceptical of official Israeli explanation of mass illnesses, point to fact that Israelis on West Bank displayed same symptoms.
Military Action:
Car bomb explodes near pro-Israel Voice of Hope television station studio on Lebanese side of border near Metulla.
Political Responses:
Israel/ Occupied Territories: Municipal park in Jerusalem dedicated to memory of Emil Grunzweig, Peace Now demonstrator killed by grenade on February 10; guarded by 850 police, 1000 supporters of Committee Against the War in Lebanon march in Jerusalem for freedom of expression and against political violence; Foreign Minister Shamir says Israel will do utmost to strengthen ties with African regimes, is grateful to Zaire for being first Black African nation to resume diplomatic ties with Israel; Likud MK Y. Hurwitz says Israel has no choice but to sell arms to any country willing to buy them; 9 yeshiva students arrested after windows of Arab-owned stores smashed in Jerusalem's Old City, 5 charged; police fire shots and teargas, arrest 94, during protests against Carter visit in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron, Tulkarm, Yatta, Halhoul, BeitJala, Ramallah, Jenin and Nablus; 3 women soldiers, 1 settler injured by stones in Hebron during protests against Defense Minister Arens visit; bombs discovered in two Hebron schools; Halhoul girls' high school closed until April; Jewish settlers fire on stone-throwing youths at Dheisheh camp and in Bethlehem.
Palestinians/ Lebanese: Arafat has talks with King Hussein at New Delhi Non-Aligned summit.
Arab Governments: Mubarak says he is in no hurry to resume diplomatic relations with Arab states that cut ties after 1979 peace treaty with Israel; Information Minister Iskander says Syria has no objection to withdrawing its troops from Lebanon if Israel does so at same time and if Lebanese authority and sovereignty over all Lebanon are established.
